Unsung echoes of excellence

From the heart of Kingston emerged a disciplined musical movement that would reverberate far beyond the city’s limits. What began under the guidance of the Sisters of Mercy as a vocational intervention for so-called “wayward boys” evolved into a transformative force in Jamaican culture.

The legacy is not merely the institution itself but the structured cultivation of talent that produced generations of master musicians and helped define Jamaica’s sonic identity.

From its corridors emerged members of The Skatalites, the deejay icon Yellowman, and countless architects of jazz, ska, and reggae. Nearly every foundational horn line in early Jamaican music carries this fingerprint. That is no coincidence. It is curriculum.

It began as a home for boys on the margins. Yet it was largely self-sufficient. Students made their own uniforms, built furniture, cultivated crops, and, critically, practised music with military precision. Craft was non-negotiable. Rehearsal was a ritual. Excellence was a habit.

Today, the BOOYAKA Music Festival amplifies that legacy not merely as entertainment but as pedagogy in motion. It celebrates mentorship, the transfer of technique, discipline, and cultural memory from one generation to the next. The festival reminds us that you do not need a silver spoon to create gold. You need a guide and a passion. Structured mentorship converts raw rhythm into refined artistry.

EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC

Music has always been more than performance. It is a neurological and spiritual formation. The sounds of music reorganise the mind. The brain responds to soothing sounds, those that are gentle and soft. Close your eyes and listen to your heartbeat. That pulse is your first metronome, the beginning of the mind-body connection. Breathe in deeply, hold, and release. In that quiet, you encounter the depth of your own. There is satisfaction in mastering breath, tempo, and tone. There is holiness in disciplined practice.

No matter how yesterday unfolded, today can be a dance, a song, your favourite rhythm. Think, and you become. Smile, and you rise above challenges. Nothing to smile about? Recall your happiest hour, your proudest reward, and the faces who love you. You are indeed special. There is always something to smile about.

The enduring lesson is simple yet profound: excellence is not accidental. It is rehearsed. It is mentored. It is lived note by note.

Contributed by Dr Lorenzo Gordon, a diabetologist, internal medicine consultant, biochemist, and a history and heritage enthusiast. Send feedback to inspiring876@gmail.com